Five GameCube Games That Must Have Remakes

The Nintendo GameCube is a console I hold dear to my heart. It was the first console that was actually mine, and mine only. It’s the root of many cherished childhood memories, and I’m sure the same can be said for many others. Selfishly, that purple old box is holding on to some of the greatest games of all times, unwilling to let them go in fear it will finally be relegated to the attic. In this feature, I take a look at five GameCube titles I am desperate to see get the glorious remake treatment that Metroid Prime and Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2 were granted and that I so desperately wish to see on the Nintendo Switch. 

Okay, let’s get two obvious honourable mentions out of the way before delving into this list. The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Twilight Princess both have their place in many of our hearts. They were once released from the clutches of the Nintendo GameCube, only to land themselves in the purgatory that is the WiiU. On that basis, they will not be included in this list, despite being deserving of a Nintendo Switch Release.

5 – Mario Kart – Double Dash.

After nine years of Mario Kart 8, it wouldn’t be a bad time to dive further into the history of Mario Kart and remake Double Dash. Although tracks throughout the series often get remade within games, and sometimes completely re-worked, at the time of writing no Mario Kart games have ever been granted a glossy remake. With its unique mechanics, such as signature items and double drivers, with a fun set of unique Karts, this is the perfect Mario Kart to remake. Unique and ambitious enough in itself, it’s a true standout among a long line of unforgettable games. 

4 – F-Zero GX

It’s hard to complain about nine years of Mario Kart 8 when F-Zero hasn’t has a new entry in twenty years (with the exception of F-Zero 99 recently released for Nintendo Switch Online members). F-Zero GX was eye-opening back in the early noughties. With the ability to customise your own engine, create your own emblem and slap it on your machine and even change the colours, this game felt revolutionary and like the beginning of something huge. Unfortunately… nothing ever came after to build on this. F-Zero GX looked fantastic for its time and if it got a beautiful HD remake with a few quality of life tweaks like Pikmin 1 & 2 and Metroid Prime had, its true potential would be finally unlocked. 

3 – Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

I consider myself a “new” fan of the Fire Emblem series. The release of Awakening piqued my interest just over a decade ago and I fell in love with the turn-based strategy series. Since then, I have not missed a new release and I have thankfully managed to catch up with some older titles thanks to the WiiU Virtual Console. Unfortunately, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance has yet to grace my gaming library. Currently selling at just over £200 here in England, it will be a long time before I can even dream of setting my hands on this title. After the series’ resurgence and the alarming price of second-hand copies, Path of Radiance is long overdue a re-release. At this point, Nintendo Switch Online probably wouldn’t even do it justice. That’s if a GameCube version of the app is ever released. No, Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance fully deserves its place in the long-line of remakes, and I will gladly die on that hill.

2 – Doshin the Giant. 

There just aren’t enough god-sims with yellow giants these days. For those unfamiliar with this niche title, Doshin the Giant was released originally in 1999 for the Nintendo 64 DD in Japan. Later, it met international waters and found its release at home on the Nintendo GameCube. If it wasn’t obvious enough, Doshin the Giant sees a giant named Doshin rise out of the waters and become a god-like entity, worshipped by the people who inhabit the islands. This game was well ahead of its time. As Doshin, you can raise or lower landscapes to create mountains, seas and rivers. By creating a mountain, you may shield some of the inhabitants from weathers such as hurricanes or tornadoes. If the landscape is too flat however, you will make them vulnerable to all weathers. The aim of the game is to make the islanders worship or fear Doshin, allowing him to grow bigger and handle more tasks with ease in-game. After each in-game day, Doshin returns to his original size, meaning you must interact with the islanders to grow once again and complete your daily tasks. With some jank and awkward controls re-worked, Doshin the Giant could be a modern day masterpiece. 

1 – Gotcha Force

Speaking of niche titles, I’m one of about nine people who ever played Gotcha Force. The best game of all time. In Gotcha Force, a group of kids become involved in a war between the alien Gotcha Force and the aptly named Death Force. As Kou, you and your friends meet and team up with “Borgs” that fit in the palm of your hands, who you command in battle to defeat the evil Death Force and save the world. As you progress through the game, you can unlock more Borgs to join your team through gacha-esque mechanics at the end of each battle. The aim of the game is to battle as much as possible, increase your Force and defeat the Death Force once and for all. Each battle takes place in a simple square battle field, decorated with furniture and features depending on where the battle takes place. This ranges from parks, to bedrooms and to classrooms. Not only is this game packed full of hack and slash fun, it’s also a collectathon. Obtaining rare Borgs and replaying the relatively short campaign via New Game+ is often rewarding and exciting. I’m begging Capcom to remember this game exists and to one day offer us a remake of this spectacular adventure.

If just one of these games on this list gets remastered or remade on the Nintendo Switch, I would be over the moon. Hopefully, it’s not out of the realms of possibilities given Nintendo’s recent releases.